Saturday, June 29, 2013

Wearing Red, White and Blue







     You are going to know this type of guy when I describe him. He has a big toothy grim, crazy curly mop of hair and he's your best friend. He's your chemistry partner, by choice, and he knows your secrets.

     I'm describing my buddy Jeff. In the tiny town where I grew up, a young person had a few choices. You could stay and find a job, go to college and disperse across the U.S. (this is what I did) or join the military. Jeff chose the service.

     As the years rolled by quickly after graduation, I began to organize our 10 year class reunion. I was writing to Jeff and thinking how great it will be to see him, but this reunion would not go as planned. Jeff was one of the first Americans to die in the Persian Gulf War. On the very day of the planned reunion was Jeff's funeral. Television media from all over the state swarmed the service because he was one the first to perish. 

     On patriotic holidays, like the fourth of July, I think of him some 20 years later. I admire his service to our country because I know his intensions were true and his commitment to our freedom was solid. This was just the kind of person he was. Thank you Jeff, I will always honor and remember you in my heart.

dress--ellen tracy
purse--cole haan
shoes--nine west (consignment purchase)
necklace--unknown


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links
not dead yet style
dc in style
my thrifty chic
bonbon rose girls
the pleated poppy
the mrs.and the momma

36 comments:

  1. What a lovely remembrance of an old friend. And another beautifully composed post.

    I always love stripes as an accent to another print. I'm also curious about the building. It seems like your backgrounds deserve to be mentioned along with your shoes, etc.!

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    1. Thanks for your comments. This is an industrial building I drive by on the way to UPS and I have always thought the bricks were interesting and unusual.

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  2. It's so nice of you to remember a person who died years ago. Surely he would appreciate your sensitivity. Sometimes the world runs too fast, you have found a little time to stop and think.


    Your dress is perfect on you, and the combination of shoes and purse...so lovely. You are extra stilish today!

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  3. It is never easy to lose a friend no matter how long ago. ...this post is such a tribute to a lost friend.

    Love your outfit without looking overtly patriotic! Enjoy your 4th!

    Alice
    www.happinessatmidlife.com

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    1. Thank you Alice. I wanted to do a patriotic post hopefully without looking like a costume. I've worn this dress a couple of time and enjoy these colors.

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  4. Wow lovely dress <3

    XOXO Sandl

    www.prizmah.blogspot.com

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  5. It's so nice that you honour your friend's memory and his service to your country. Lovely post. Marie S

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    1. As an ex-military wife, I offer my respects to your friend Jeff for his duty and sacrifice for our country!

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  6. Red is such a powerful colour against the stone.
    Brilliant piece of art, dear Ann.
    I am sure your honoured friend would have agreed with me on how glorious you look.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
    Ps: any chance of deleting the WORD VERIFICATION please, please???

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  7. so sorry to read about your friend this dress with all the hearts on is a lovely tribute.

    I love this dress its so pretty the print is beautiful.

    beautiesunlocked.blogspot.co.uk

    Lx

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  8. A beautiful tribute to your friend Ann. And I really appreciate how you have honoured him through your outfit... red, white & blue... and the hearts, so beautifully thought through. The dress is beautiful. I adore navy and red. It is such a lovely shape, creating a lovely slim line and I like that you have the collar done up. The photo in front of the pillar is such a clever idea:)

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    1. Thanks Deborah for the thoughtful comments. I wanted to do a fourth of July red, white and blue post talking about Jeff, but I didn't notice the heart shapes on this dress. Thanks for pointing this out. Sometimes things just work out in ways I didn't see at first glance.

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  9. Excellent, personal post, Ann.
    I work in the military and therefore your experience is not unfamiliar to me, although fortunately I have never lost a friend in combat.
    We will have 4th July celebrations as well.

    Today's outfit is classy and stunning! A real Lady.

    Annette
    Enter my giveaway: Glamourous clutch
    Lady of Style

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    1. Thanks Annette for your comments. I remember reading that you work in the military and I thought this post might resonate with you.

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  10. What a powerful tribute to your lost friend, Ann, thank you for sharing it. You look stunning as always in red, white and blue.

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  11. As a child of the '60's, I feel great ambivalence when I hear the word "patriotism". I struggle with "blind obedience" and the rationalization of war for "freedom" when really it's about oil or money for a select few, and find myself more sympathetic to conscientious objectors, as a rule. But I also don't negate the poignant stories of people like your friend, and I'm grateful you shared this experience with us. I'm glad he had a friend like you who continues to honor his life. May we all be so lucky to have such a friend. As such, your outfit is a lovely tribute.

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    1. Oh I do understand your feelings. I did this story because Jeff is a real person, what I described was true for this individual's life and I find it sad that he didn't live to see his child grow up. I know for him the fourth of July would have been meaningful.

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  12. It's so nice that you keep memory of your lost friend. As long as we remember someone the person is alive.
    Very beautiful dress, Ann! Its beauty is in its amazing print of course. By adding this bag and the red shoes you made it look even more spectacular!

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  13. Glad to see you are saluting the red, white and blue this week, and you did so in the perfect Ann fashion. Always so chic, elegant, and put together. Love you added story of Jeff. I do believe we all have similiar stories and that is why it's important to remember and celebrate this week. Thanks Ann for the reminder.

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  14. That's incredibly sad. I have lost several childhood friends in the service, so this resonates with me.

    I love the print on that pretty dress!

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  15. You are honoring him well with the RED, WHITE & BLUE! Great dress. Love how you bring such great patterns together.

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  16. What an exceptional take this grand little dress is on the good ol' red-white-and-blue! Sweet little hearts make the perfect statement for the 4th. Hope it's not too warm for you to wear it. You look patriotic and pretty!

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    1. It's cool here in MN--yesterday in the 70's. We are lucky, I've heard how warm it is in many parts of the US. Thanks for stopping by Jan.

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  17. Your tribute to your friend is expressed with your creativity, your outfit, your backgrounds and the written word. Every detail is perfection.

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    1. Thanks so much for your comments. I felt good about this post when I published it and yesterday I started wondering if I shared to much. My intention was not to be political but to tell a story that would be relatable to many people's experiences.

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  18. A beautiful dress, I love the design and printing. You look really great with this look.

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  19. Picture perfect. From your neat, sweet bob to your shapely legs and pretty shoes. Very classy.

    I appreciated your tribute to your friend Jeff, in both photo and word. Not enough can be said for those who stake their lives in the service of their country. Thank you.

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  20. A poignant and beautifully composed post... in both words and visuals.

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  21. Beautiful tribute, photos, and outfit. Pure class all the way!

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  22. I'm so sorry to hear this story. He sounded like a good friend and a good man.

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  23. Jeff sounds like he was a wonderful person. Thanks so much for sharing your friendship, and for keeping his memory alive in this well-written post.

    Gosh, you look so sleek and chic. Your photos are perfect! Mine are rather wrinkled, with much dog hair added :P

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  24. Sorry to hear this. Gorgeous dress! If you get a chance, please link up to my What We Wore link Party: http://suburbsmama.blogspot.com/2013/07/what-we-wore-4.html

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  25. I'm in love with your dress! So gorgeous!

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  26. A very sad story. Reminds me a bit of Jesus Christ Superstar (the movie from days long ago).
    But your dress is beautiful. Also like the play with lines at the hem and in the bag. Beautiful. I think I would have opened 1 button at the top. Could be because I have a chip on my shoulder for anything too near to my throat.
    Greetje

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  27. What a wonderful friend you will forever remember. Jeff was so lucky to know you.

    Again I am very drawn to the mixing of the print with your handbag and dress. Most people would just carry a plain white handbag with this printed dress, but the black handles and trim make the outfit much more interesting than a solid would. Perfection.

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